British powerlifter Andrea Thompson has been declared the winner of the 2025 World’s Strongest Woman competition, which took place over the weekend in Arlington, Texas.
This decision follows the disqualification of the original winner, Jammie Booker, from the women’s category after it was revealed that Booker’s biological sex recorded at birth was male.
The official Strongman account announced Booker’s disqualification earlier this week, saying it had been unaware of the athlete’s biological sex before or during the competition.
The organization also said that its policy is clear: “Competitors can only compete in the category for the biological sex recorded at birth.”
“Had we been aware, or had this been declared at any point before or during the competition, this athlete would not have been permitted to compete in the Woman’s Open category,” the Strongman statement reads.
Booker, 28, had beaten Thompson by a single point to win on Sunday.
In a now-viral video, posted by @XX_XYAthletics, the award ceremony showed Thompson stepping away and appearing to mouth “This is bullsh*t, can we go now?” as Booker celebrated.
Allegations surfaced in the days following the competition, including a 2017 YouTube video in which Booker appears to identify as “trans.” According to official Strongman records, Booker had not competed in women’s strongman events before June 2025 and had participated in only three Official Strongman competitions total, winning two.
Organizers of the competition also said they attempted to contact Booker for clarification but received no response.
Booker’s social-media accounts, including Instagram and TikTok, have since been made private, and no public statement has been made as of press time.
Thompson, the former 2018 World’s Strongest Woman champion, described the ordeal as “the most exhausting experience of my career.”
“What should be a momentous occasion has sadly been overshadowed by scandal and dishonesty from someone who was welcomed into our crazy sport,” Thompson wrote on Instagram. “I am grateful to the team for reaching out to me, investigating and rectifying the situation so quickly. Honoring the title to me, which is something we just don’t see in any other sport that has faced a similar position. This means that we, as a community ARE taking a stand. Protecting women’s sport as we have fought so hard for.”
The decision has drawn attention from Texas officials, with Attorney General Ken Paxton announcing on Tuesday that he is now investigating the competition and its organizers.
“Attorney General Paxton will not allow the radical left to sacrifice the integrity of girls’ sports on the altar of their delusional transgender agenda. The OAG is investigating this incident and will take any and all actions to protect women’s sports both in Texas and across the nation,” Paxton’s office said in a statement obtained by Fox News.
Paxton has previously investigated men participating in women’s competitions, including a lawsuit earlier this year against U.S. Masters Swimming for a similar incident, as previously reported by DX.
The decision to acknowledge Thompson as the genuine winner marks her second World’s Strongest Woman crown.
The 43-year-old champion urged female athletes to “keep showing up. Take up space. Be loud. Be proud. Show your daughters how amazing you are.”